Should oasification be ignored when examining desertification in Northwest China?

Abstract

Abstract. There has been substantial expansion of oases in the Northwest of China in recent decades; however, research has largely focused on desertification rather than oasification and its associated mechanisms. Based on the description of desertification in arid regions and other regions, and analysis of oasification in arid or hyper-arid areas, we firstly elucidate the theoretical relationship between oasification and desertification. We then examine the current 5 understanding in oasification research, and propose that this will enhance our understanding of desertification through the integration of studies of oasification. Finally, we suggest three potential topics for future oasification research. We also propose a simple conceptual model for the identification of an appropriate oasis size under different land uses, including the crucial assessment of associated uncertainties. Based on the analysis of oasification research from an 10 epistemological and methodological perspective, we suggest that oasification should have equal research status to desertification in arid regions.

Oasification and Desertification under the Framework of Land Degradation Neutrality

“…Climate projections in China point to a greater risk of extreme events and aridification in arid and semi-arid regions. In addition, changing snowmelt patterns [11] are a serious threat to the region's oases, which have historically depended on this water flow [12].…”

Water use efficiency and yield responses of cotton to field capacity-based deficit irrigation in an extremely arid area of China

“…In the arid regions of northwest China where crop irrigation employs close to 90% of available water, such inefficiency only contributes further to local water scarcity [7,8] . Growing oasification and expansion of oasis farmlands in recent years [9] have led to excessive exploitation of water resources [10] , resulting in serious conflicts in meeting the water needs of agricultural production, ecosystems, and human populations [11][12][13][14] .…”

Agricultural Oasis Expansion and Its Impact on Oasis Landscape Patterns in the Southern Margin of Tarim Basin, Northwest China

“…Recently, landscape change has received worldwide concern from different perspectives including the context, direction, rate, and spatiotemporal variation [6,8]. In arid or semiarid regions, the oasis as a unique landscape coexists with deserts like the Gobi, allowing vegetation to flourish and humans to thrive due to the presence of runoff, spring water, and groundwater [9][10][11]. The oasis is the basis of human settlement and economic development; it supports more than 95% of the population and more than 90% of social wealth, with only 5-6% of the land surface in arid and semiarid regions of China [6,12].…”